On Friday the 13th history was made as University of Delaware Soccer standouts Guillermo Delgado & Thomas De Villardi were selected in the second round in the MLS SuperDraft. These Blue Hens join Evans Frimpong as the only Blue Hens drafted by a MLS team. Frimpong was selected by the Chicago Fire in 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.
Senior Guillermo Delgado was selected 27th by the Chicago Fire and the other senior Thomas De Villardi was selected 42nd by the Minnesota United.
Delgado was a high prospect on MLS scouts list, as he was one of 66 players to take part in 2017 adidas MLS Player Combine where he led Team Control to a 2-1-0 record and scored one goal in 131 minutes played.
For the Fightin’ Blue Hens, Delgado led them to CAA Championship and berth in the NCAA Championship. Delgado earned several awards in his collegiate career including 2016 CAA Player of the Year, NSCAA All-America (4x), All-CAA First Team (4x) and NSCAA All-Midwest Region First Team (4x).
The newest member of the Chicago Fire was the nation’s active leader in points (117) and goals (49). In four years at Delaware he was the all time leader in assists, points, goals, shots and game winning goals. Delgado also finished fifth in CAA history in goals and sixth in points. He is the first player since 2003 to record at least 40 goals and score 100 points.
Delgado thanked his coaches for giving him this opportunity.
“Chicago is a beautiful city; they have a great coaching staff,” Delgado commented. “I’m excited and thrilled to give everything I can on the field. I had a tremendous four years at Delaware. Thank you to my coaches and my teammates. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to be here and pursue my dream of playing soccer for a living.”
Delaware’s soccer coach Ian Hennessy was not surprised that Delgado got drafted where he did after his record setting year.
“I am thrilled for Guillermo,” remarked Delaware head coach Ian Hennessy. “It’s a wonderful honor to be drafted in what has been a very exciting MLS SuperDraft today. It’s the perfect end to a record-setting year and career that saw him end as the top active scorer in the NCAA. We couldn’t be prouder of him. With this MLS achievement for a UD player, I want to acknowledge the work of my assistants Jon Scheer and Roberto Giménez who did so much work recruiting Guillermo and helping him mature as a player over a terrific college career at the University of Delaware.”
De Villardi was an All-Midwest Region second team selection this season and he earned third team honors last season. The midfielder was a two time all CAA first team honoree at Delaware.
While his name is not as known as Delgado’s, Delaware’s coach Hennessy believes De Villardi will have a impact on his new team.
“Thomas is one of the most underrated players in this year’s draft,” Hennessy state. “He has been a pleasure to work with and I believe he has all the tools to push on at the next level and I and delighted that this is shared by the Minnesota organization.”
Delaware joins UCLA, Syracuse, UConn, Louisville, Denver, Akron, Wake Forest and UNC as the schools to receive multiple picks in the SuperDraft.
Hennessy hopes this historic draft shows the Delaware not only builds stars on the field but off of it too.
“It has been a historic draft for the University of Delaware men’s soccer team and I hope it can inspire recruits to a university where you can not only receive a first class education but also serve as a path to a professional playing career in the MLS.”
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